Relate Church

Jesus was a realist and was very honest about the consequences of following Him. 
He said if you follow Him, there are many people who aren't going to approve of your decision, they're not going to like it. If you live by these beatitudes we've been looking at now for eight weeks you can expect some people to be upset with you. 
But He also said, "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!" (Matt. 5:10)

Matthew 5:9 "Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God." 
It doesn't say, "Happy are the peace lovers", everybody loves peace. Or, "Happy are the peaceable," those who never get disturbed by anything. 
It says: Happy are those who make peace -- who actively seek to resolve conflict.

 

Because of the finished work on the cross, we no longer have to be afraid of sinning, You only need to be afraid of not loving.
God wants you to begin loving. Love your spouse. Love your husband. Love your wife. Love your children. Love your parents. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your church family. Love your co-workers. 
Because love will overcome sin. 

Mercy is love in action—it’s tough, tender love. 
It’s the tough, tender love that we see on the cross. 
Jesus was taking a stand against our sinful nature and destructive lives—by giving His own, and tender by not destroying us in the process.

A lot of people really don't know what they want in life. The Bible says we are spiritual beings and God made us to love Him and to know Him and be loved by Him. Nothing will take the place of that. There is no substitute. 
You need to recognize what your real hunger is. Your hunger is your spiritual being and its hunger for God. The sooner you recognize that, the better.

What is meekness? Meekness is not weakness. 
The word used for Meek in the old language literally referred to something like a wild horse that was tamed or medicine that could tame a fever. 
Strength under control. 

How can you be happy after a loss, after a broken heart? How can you be happy after the worst of the worst has happened? Or when your dream is crushed? Or even worse, when someone intentionally takes someone from you, or intentionally destroys your dream. 
Happiness begins with the peace and comfort of God in your life.

If you have to have all of your problems solved before you become happy, will you ever be happy? No. If you have to have everything perfect in your life before you're happy, will you be happy? No.
My happiness is not determined by what's happening around me, but rather by what's happening in me. 

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 
The truth is that we were never meant to blend in! We were never saved to sit! Why? Because sitting does nothing for God! It may make you feel better but it does nothing for God
We were saved to serve!

God loves providing a good plot twist in our lives.
God loves for people to look at our lives and see the difference between before we knew Him, and after we knew Him.
Some of you are in that position today—you feel like your life is spiraling. I’m here to encourage you today. God wants to swing the pendulum in your direction. God wants to twist the plot in your life.